wildfires News

No Respite for Wildfire-Hit Alberta as Conditions Set to Worsen

Abnormally hot and dry weather is set to return to Alberta on Thursday after a couple of cooler days helped calm wildfires that have forced thousands of evacuations and disrupted production in Canada’s main oil-rich province. Record-high temperatures and tinder-dry …

Washington’s Proposed Wildfire Smoke Designed to Protect Workers from Dangers

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries filed proposed permanent wildfire smoke rules and launched a formal process for public input designed to protect people who work outdoor jobs like construction, agriculture, roofing, roadwork and other industries. When these …

Update: Wildfires Rage Across Canada’s Gas Heartland, Cutting Production

Wildfires raging across western Canada forced the evacuation of 30,000 residents and cut at least 234,000 barrels a day of oil and gas production as companies shut down wells and pipelines. A total of 100 blazes were burning Monday afternoon, …

Wildfires in Alaska? Climate Change Sparks Disaster Fears

Research on a flat spot for air evacuations. Talk of old-style civil defense sirens to warn of fast-moving wildfires. Hundreds of urban firefighters training in wildland firefighting techniques while snow still blankets the ground. This is the new reality in …

Pollution Lawsuit Could Curb Use of Aerial Fire Retardant

A legal dispute in Montana could drastically curb the government’s use of aerial fire retardant to combat wildfires after environmentalists raised concerns about waterways that are being polluted with the potentially toxic red slurry that’s dropped from aircraft. A coalition …

New Mexico Lawmakers Seek Assurances Amid Prescribed Burns

Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are looking for assurances from the U.S. Forest Service that the agency is taking preventative measures to ensure that future prescribed fires don’t turn into disasters. They sent a letter this week to Forest …

Groups Say Fire Retardant Injunction Would Increase Western U.S. Risks ‘Dramatically’

Several groups of associations, cities and counties are attempting to challenge a case in Montana they say has the potential to take away an important tool from firefighting efforts at a time when Western U.S. wildfires are worsening. The groups, …

New Mexico Law Signed to Help Wildfire, Flooding Recovery

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed to use zero-interest loans to help local governments in the arid, Southwest state repair or replace public infrastructure damaged by wildfires or subsequent flooding. The law follows last year’s historic Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon …

Bill Advances in New Mexico to Gird Against Climate Crises

A legislative panel advanced a bill this week that would help local governments plan in advance for climate-related threats to public health such as wildfires, flooding, extreme heat and rapid erosion. The initiative from Democratic state Sen. Liz Stefanics of …

President Approves California Disaster Declaration

President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in California and ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, flooding and landslides. The president’s action makes federal funding …